Sports Injury Rehabilitation in North Vancouver
Sports injuries rarely come out of nowhere. Whether it's a nagging strain, a recurring ache, or pain that shows up every time you train, there's usually a specific factor driving it, often somewhere other than where the pain actually shows up. I assess how your whole movement system, not just the injured area, is handling load, so we can identify what's actually contributing to your injury and build a plan that addresses it, not just the symptom in front of us.
Your Injury Has a Cause. Let's Find It.
What is causing your pain?
Sports-related injuries are one of the most common reasons people come into the office. But not every injury shows up the same way: a strain from last week's game needs a very different plan than an old, unaddressed injury that's quietly changed how you move for years. Getting the right diagnosis is what determines the right treatment. Here are some of the injuries I most commonly assess and treat:
Muscle Strain
A muscle strain, commonly known as a pulled muscle, occurs when a muscle or tendon is overstretched or torn, typically due to fatigue, overuse, or a sudden, forceful movement
Ligament Sprain
Though patients frequently call it a "muscle sprain," a sprain actually refers to the overstretching or tearing of a ligament, the tough band of connective tissue that links two bones together at a joint.
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfers Elbow)
Pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow, often from repetitive gripping or swinging motions in sports like golf, climbing, or weightlifting.
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (Shin Splints)
Characterized by pain along the shin bone due to inflamed muscles, tendons, and bone tissue, this frequently affects athletes who rapidly increase their 5 km running volume or transition to harder running surfaces.
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
Pain on the outside of the elbow, commonly linked to repetitive wrist extension or grip-heavy activities like tennis, racquet sports, or manual work.
What to expect during your session.
1
Comprehensive assessment
Every visit starts with a full movement and clinical assessment of the affected area and how it connects to the rest of your body, looking at training load, movement mechanics, and recovery between sessions, so we understand what's actually driving your symptoms before recommending any treatment
2
A plan built around you
From there, we build an individualized plan that combines manual therapy with active, exercise-based rehabilitation. You'll know exactly what we're addressing, why, and what the process looks like going forward.
3
Built for long-term resilience
We track your progress at every visit, reassessing regularly and adjusting your plan as you improve. The goal is genuine, long-term resilience and a real return to the activities you care about, not an open-ended treatment plan.
How long does recovery take?
This depends heavily on what's injured and how significant it is, which is exactly why a proper assessment matters before anyone can give you a real timeline. A grade 1 muscle strain, minor fiber damage, often improves within one to two weeks. A grade 2 strain, more significant tissue damage, typically takes several weeks to a couple of months. A grade 3 strain, a complete tear, takes considerably longer and may need a different level of care altogether. Overuse injuries like tennis elbow or shin splints follow a different pattern entirely, since they develop gradually and usually need a change in training load alongside treatment, not just time.
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Recovery also isn't purely time-based, it follows the same general healing process all injured tissue goes through, which is why your plan is built around where you currently are in that process rather than a one-size-fits-all timeline